Update by the edhat staff
October 9, 2023
Just after midnight on Monday, SpaceX launched 21 Starlink satellites onboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
The launch took place at 12:23 a.m. and sent the satellites to low-Earth orbit.
This was the 14th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, DART, Transporter-7, Iridium OneWeb, SDA-0B, and nine Starlink missions.
SpaceX Launch Scheduled for Early Monday Morning
Written by the edhat staff
October 8, 2023
SpaceX is targeting Monday, October 9 at 12:23 a.m. for a Falcon 9 launch of 21 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
If needed, four backup opportunities are available starting at 1:14 a.m. until 3:46 a.m.
This is the 14th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, DART, Transporter-7, Iridium OneWeb, SDA-0B, and eight Starlink missions.
Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
Weather permitting, the event could be visible for hundreds of miles during the first few minutes. Viewers can expect to see the Falcon rocket produce a bright orange flame that will dim as a smoke plume appears. It should remain visible through the entire second stage burn.
A live webcast of this mission will begin on X @SpaceX about five minutes prior to liftoff.
Does anyone have a count on how many satellites are flying up this date. And, how many have lost orbit??
Great article here, with graphics to show satellites in orbit.
NY Times article “Elon Musk’s Unmatched Power in the Stars”
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/07/28/business/starlink.html
I’ll try to share a free link soon.